In the age of emails and texts, receiving something in the mail that isn’t a credit card offer or bill is a rare but welcome occurrence. Handwritten notes sent via snail mail have the ability to brighten up anyone’s day—even more so when they’re sent in appreciation or gratitude. Yet even though thank you notes are almost always met with joy, they seem to be a dying art.

The truth is, etiquette just isn’t what it used to be. These days, we’re lucky if we get a phone call or email acknowledging a given gift, let alone an actual note card. But with the advent of technology making snail mail seem obsolete, have the rules concerning thank you notes changed?